16 Ground Covers That Replace Mulch and Look Better Doing It

earth book binding are an first-class option to traditional mulch , offering both aesthetic appeal and practical benefit . These plants not only suppress weeds but also enhance garden beauty with their unique textures and colour . In this guide , we search 16 exceptional ground book binding that can transmute your landscape into a vibrant arras .

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)

fawn Thyme is a delightful sun - love herb that thrives in cheery spots . With its fragrant aroma and vibrant purple blooms , it make a picturesque carpet between stepping stones . It ’s drought - patient of , making it a perfect choice for blue - water landscapes . Its delicate flowers pull pollinators , adding life-time to your garden . The charming thyme not only replaces mulch but also infuses the air with its soothing scent . Ideal for cheery nerve pathway , Creeping Thyme offer a serene and aromatic flat coat cover solution that is both beautiful and practical .

2. Sedum (Stonecrop) (Sedum spp.)

Sedum , known as Stonecrop , is a versatile succulent that thrives in hot , dry areas . Its water - storing leave of absence and variety of colour , like the vivacious ‘ Angelina ’ or deep blood-red ‘ Dragon ’s Blood ’ , bring a splash of color to any garden . Ideal for those challenging dry muscae volitantes , Sedum ’s resilience and salient appearance make it a standout choice . This elusive flora not only replaces mulch but also adds grain and ocular interest , transforming barren area into luxuriant landscapes . With minimal attention requirements , Sedum is a nurseryman ’s ally in dry conditions .

3. Ajuga (Bugleweed) (Ajuga reptans)

Ajuga , or Bugleweed , is a fast - spreading beauty perfect for shade or part sun surface area . With its outstanding purple or motley leaf , Ajuga creates a coloured ground screen that quickly fills mere blot . Its small blue flowers add an extra layer of charm , attracting pollinator and bringing vibrancy to shaded area . idealistic for under trees or in shady borders , Ajuga ’s speedy ontogeny and minimal maintenance make it a nurseryman ’s favourite . Its ability to expand in less gay region makes Ajuga a virtual and beautiful mulch renewal .

4. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)

Sweet Woodruff is a fragrant , shade - loving industrial plant that stand out in suppressing weeds under trees or shrubs . Its delicate clean flowers and whorled leaves make a lush carpeting that adds elegance to any garden . Known for its gratifying scent , Sweet Woodruff transforms shaded areas into fascinating retreats . It ’s consummate for woodland gardens , where its speedy bed covering covers primer effectively . With its aromatic tone and ability to thrive in tad , Sweet Woodruff is a delightful and practical alternative to traditional mulch , propose both beauty and functionality .

5. Lamium (Dead Nettle) (Lamium maculatum)

Lamium , or Dead Nettle , is a magical soil cover with silver - vary leaves and ticklish pink or white flowers . Ideal for dry spectre , Lamium ’s leafage brightens blind sphere with its shimmering show . Its ability to thrive in gainsay condition makes it a valuable addition to any garden . The contrast colors of its leaves and blooms make visual interest , enhancing the garden ’s aesthetic appeal . Perfect for field where other flora struggle , Lamium provides a succulent and vivacious alternative to mulch , offer a captivating display all year round .

6. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

Periwinkle , or Vinca minor , is an evergreen plant beauty with wizardly purple - risque flowers . hone for incline or umbrageous area , its track habit chop-chop covers ground , prevent erosion . Periwinkle ’s glossy leaves remain vivacious throughout the year , ply colouring material even in winter . Its resilience and low maintenance make it an excellent choice for challenging spots . Whether cascading down a slope or filling a shady nook , Periwinkle offer an elegant and imperishable alternative to mulch , combining beauty with practicality .

7. Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)

Pachysandra , with its thick , glossy leafage , is a ground cover that thrives in deep shade . Ideal for area under trees where dope wo n’t grow , Pachysandra spring a dense mat that inhibit weeds and retains moisture . Its evergreen plant nature ensures year - rhythm greenery , enhance the garden ’s allure . Pachysandra ’s ability to thrive in gloomy - light conditions reach it a virtual selection for unmanageable spotlight . By supply a succulent , low - sustentation ground cover , Pachysandra offers an attractive and running alternative to traditional mulch .

8. Corsican Mint (Mentha requienii)

Corsican Mint is a tiny wonder , with fragrant leaves that make a lavish carpet in moist , shaded area . Its bantam size and minty aroma make it a unique ground cover choice , adding a refreshing aroma to gardens . Perfect for damp spots , Corsican Mint thrives where other plants might not . Its vibrant light-green foliation offers a visually appealing alternative to mulch , covering the ground with elegance and spell . Ideal for moist , shaded gardens , Corsican Mint bring a touch of whimsy and fragrance to any landscape painting .

9. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)

Irish Moss , with its gentle , moss - comparable texture , is a delightful terra firma top for partial shade . Perfect for fairy garden or nestled between pavers , it creates a lush , fleeceable sweep that sum up a magical touch to landscape . Its low - growing wont and power to accommodate to various conditions make it a versatile choice . The delicate texture of Irish Moss provides an elegant alternative to mulch , offering a unagitated and visually pleasing ground covert solution . idealistic for filling gap and create jinx garden scenes , Irish Moss is really captivating .

10. Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis)

Blue Star Creeper is a bouncy ground cover , staring for filling gaps in pathways . With its tiny blue flowers and ability to permit light foot dealings , it adds charm and functionality to garden paths . This low - growing plant creates a lush carpet that softens hardscapes and heighten garden esthetics . Ideal for areas with occasional foundation traffic , Blue Star Creeper offers a practical and beautiful alternative to mulch . Its touchy flowers and tenacious growth make it a standout choice for add colour and texture to garden pathways .

11. Woolly Thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)

Woolly Thyme is a delicious undercoat cover with fuzzy , facile foliage that thrives in rock gardens and dry slopes . Its unique grain and drought - immune nature make it an ideal choice for challenging areas . The soft foliage of Woolly Thyme tote up a tactual ingredient to gardens , creating interestingness and contrast . Perfect for dry conditions , this thyme variant extend a visually likable and downcast - maintenance alternative to mulch . cover the ground with its witching appearance , Woolly Thyme is both practical and enchanting .

12. Mazus (Mazus reptans)

Mazus is a low - acquire ground cover with delicious purple or white prime , sodding for moist , partially shaded field . Its rapid facing pages and charming blooms create a vivacious carpet that enlivens garden infinite . Mazus ’s adaptability to damp status make it a practical choice for areas that keep on moisture . By supply a lush and colourful alternative to mulch , Mazus enhance garden esthetic and function as a dynamical ground cover . Its cheerful efflorescence and lively nature make Mazus a darling option for creating captivating garden panorama .

13. Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nana’)

Dwarf Mondo Grass is a grass - like earth cover that requires no mowing , making it perfect for shady , well - drained spots . Its thick tufts create a exuberant , gullible carpet that adds elegance to garden landscapes . idealistic for border or as an underplanting , Dwarf Mondo Grass bring home the bacon a neat and tidy coming into court . Its grim upkeep and power to thrive in refinement make it a practical and attractive alternative to mulch . propose year - troll verdure , Dwarf Mondo Grass is a various and enduring choice for enhancing garden sweetheart .

14. Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’)

halcyon Creeping Jenny is a vibrant ground blanket with undimmed chartreuse foliage that open quick . hone for border ponds or wet areas , its trailing habit supply a splash of colour and texture . This fast - growing plant thrives in moist conditions , make it an ideal choice for enhancing water supply lineament . Its lively gloss and adaptability ply a striking choice to traditional mulch , creating a lush and dynamic landscape . favorable Creeping Jenny ’s speedy growth and cheerful behavior make it a prefer option for lend brightness to any garden .

15. Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum)

Charles Percy Snow - in - Summer is a stunning land top with silvern foliage and white blooms that fly high on live , dry slopes . Its shimmering leaf and delicate flowers create a striking contrast , adding visual machination to ambitious expanse . This resilient industrial plant is perfect for teetotal experimental condition , offering a low - maintenance and beautiful option to mulch . Snow - in - Summer ’s ability to make a cool down effect with its faint - colorise foliage makes it a unique and likeable option . Transforming barren gradient into picturesque scenes , Snow - in - Summer captivates with its beauty and practicality .

16. Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense or europaeum)

Wild Ginger , with its heart - influence leaves , thrives in deep shade , making it gross for woodland garden . Its unique leafage provide a succulent undercoat cover that adds deepness and texture to shaded expanse . Wild Ginger ’s power to grow in down in the mouth - illumination conditions makes it a hard-nosed alternative for challenge spots . Offering a lifelike and beautiful choice to mulch , Wild Ginger enhance garden esthetics with its distinctive appearance . By providing a verdant carpeting in shaded gardens , Wild Ginger captivates with its elegance and functionality .